Motor-vehicle.



A. P. BRUSH. MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED nov. 1a, 1908.

966,519; Patented Aug. 9; 1910. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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966,519. Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AIlANSON P. BRUSH, 011 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Application filed November 18, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910. Serial No. 463,149. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALANsoN P. BRUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates particularly to the mechanism through which the motor is caused to drive the vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction for this purpose having numerous advantages over the constructions, most nearly resembling it, employed for the same purpose, such advantages relating particularly to the chea-pness, simplicity and efiiciency of the construction, to a material reduction in weight of the structure, and to the ease with which the mechanism may be taken apart and reassembled when any repairs are necessary.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation ofa motor car embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view partly sectioned of a little more than one half of the rear axle structure, and of the mechanism connecting the same with the motor shaft. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view in the plane of line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

The main frame A of the vehicle may be of any suitable construction, but it only includes essentially two side members a, and the front transverse member a, and the rear transverse member a Any suitable motor B may be fixed to the front part of said frame.- As shown, the front end of the motor is fixed to the transverse member a, and the rear end of the motor has two laterally ex-' tended arms I) which are respectively secured to the two side members a. The main'drive shaft is indicated by C. It is preferable to employ, and the drawing shows, an internal combustion engine as the motor; and the shaft C, as shown, is the crank shaft of the engine. The shaft extends longitudinally rearward, and is preferably inclined slightly downward toward its rear end so that, under normal conditions, it will be in substantial alinement with a transmission shaft to which it imparts motion.

The rear or driving axle is of familiar form. It includes the two revolving axle sections E, E, and suitable differential mechanism F, by which they are connected, and a overcome shell or casing wherein these parts are mounted and by which they are inclosed. This shell or casing comprises a central gear case D, two laterally extending tubes (Z fixed thereto and a forwardly extended tubular torque member (l which is fixed to the central gear case by means of bolts (1 which permit its easy disconnection. The tubes (l are connected to the frame by means of springs G in the usual or any suitable manner. There is, however, one noticeable characteristic of the structure shown in the drawing, namely, that. these springs furnish the only necessary driving connection between the rear axle structure and the frame of the .machine, which is belleved to be novel in automobiles having a shaft drive.

lVithin the torque member (7' is the mechanism for transmitting controlled motion from the main driving shaft 0 to the differ ential mechanism. This transmission and controlling mechanism includes two alined transmission shafts R and P, suitable change speed gearing M, and a clutch H. The rear transmission shaft is provided with a beveled gear 1) which meshes with the beveled driving gear f of the differential mechanism. The clutch employed may be ofany suitable construction. The change speed mechanism may likewise beof any suitable construction; but whatever may be the construction of the clutch and change speed mechanism, these are, according to this invention inclosed b and suitably mounted in an enlargement 3 of the torque member, which enlargement is located near the front end of said torque member. By so locating these parts, they not only serve the function for which they are primarily provided, but they make it possible to shorten and simplify the mechanisms by which they are operated, which mechanisms must be near the drivers seat, and will be a little behind said enlargement d of the torque member.-

It is-a well known fact that in the operation of a motor car having a rear axle structure substantially like thatshown provided with a forwardly extended torque member, the tendency of the torque member is upward. By the location of the clutch and change speed mechanism in the torque member near the forward end thereof, they not only serve the functions stated, but, by their they counteract and substantially weight,

the normal tendency of the torque member to swing upward. 7

The shaft R is mounted on suitable antifriction bearings shown,

{sal joint support upon the as roller bearings W in the forward end of the torque member; and it projects forward out of the front end of the torque member. This of. said shaft has a telescopic universa oint connection with the-main drivin arms enter the grooves k and are capable of 20- I 7 1n sai moving longitu inally therein, or'of rocking grooves 1n two relatively transverse directions as much as 1s necessary to preserve an efficient driving connection between shaftv C and shaftR .as they are disalined when thecar is in use... The so-called grooves 70 are preferably produced bysmall steel tubes is driven into suitable recesses in the'hub K and provided with longitudinal slots k through which arms 1' extend loosely.

Attention is particularly called to the fact that the front end of the transmission shaft R is supported by the main driving shaft C,

and that the forward end of the torque member has no support sa've what it derives from the shaft R. It is not connected with the frame, and therefore does not serve in any deree as a driving strut. It'has through the described mechanism a telesco ing univerprojectin part.

larly called, however,

ivmg axle,

and therefore the torque effect of the rear axle is transmitted to the main shaft C, instead of ,to a part of the frame as in prior structures.

The cap plate I is secured to the rear end of the hub K, a'ndit has a hole through it for the passage of the frontlend of the torque member. Attention is particuto the fact that this torque member does not touch this plate. The function of the plate is to keep dirtout of the hub, to retainlubrication therein, and to prevent the accidental withdrawal of the 'end'ofthe'shaft R from said hub.

- Having described'my invention, I claim: In an automobile, the combination of a frame, .a motor fixed to the front end thereof, a longitudinally extended main shaft driven by said motor, a rear axle structure which includes a casing having a forwardly extended tubular torque member which is removably connected with the differential gear casing of the rear axle structure and is enlarged near its front end, transmission controlling mechanism mounted in said enlargement, and two-transmission shafts mounted in said torque member and adapted to be variously connected by said controlling mechanism, one of said shafts being operatively connected with the rotating mechanism of the rear axle structure'and the other of said shafts havin a telescoping universal joint connection wlth the main shaft.

In testimony whereof, I hereuntoaffix my signature in. the presence of two witnesses.

, ALANSON P. BRUSH.

Witnesses:

H. R. SULLIV N,

E. L. THURSTON. 

